How to Stage Your Home for the Feng Shui Buyer

featured this week in Better Homes and Gardens

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Collaborated with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate to talk about Feng Shui for Chinese-American buyers

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate recently conducted a real estate survey of the US market, focusing on Chinese and Chinese Americans who comprise the fastest growing segment of home buyers. As a whole, they spent an estimated $28.6 billion on residential real estate in the U.S. from April 2014 to March 2015.  

The research questioned 500 Chinese-Americans in partnership with the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) to understand the impact of the ancient design philosophy, feng shui, on this population’s home buying mindset and preferences. This research also has implications for furniture and other home furnishings purchases.

Feng shui is still a pervasive, even indispensable, design influence and lifestyle for such a large group of Americans. Some key points from the survey by Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate include:

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    5 Easy Ways to Maximize the Space in Kids’ Rooms

    featured on DailyParent, by Andrea Williams

    Whether you have one kid or 12, there never seems to be enough space in your home, right? From random flip flops and baseball cleats, to missing board games pieces and runaway Legos, we can never seem to escape the constant flow of stuff. And this is especially true in children’s bedrooms, where square footage is at a premium and there is often more than one kid sharing the space. Taming kid clutter and maximizing children’s rooms are no easy tasks, but, here, we’ve gathered the best tips from design experts to help you regain control of your home.

    Create a floor plan with distinct spaces/zones.

    “Zones are important because they help to define a space, which is especially helpful if a space has to pull ‘double duty,’” says Hobbs. “This technique works well in small places because it helps to define a room and ensure there is a home for various activities.”

    Additionally, says feng shui and green design expert Anjie Cho, intentionally dividing a floor plan can make it easier for siblings to share a small room. “A recent client had two siblings—a boy and a girl—sharing a room,” Cho explains. “They had bunkbeds, but it really was not going to work anymore as both children were starting to get older. [To divide the room], we put in sliding doors that acted as a wall but could be opened and still let in light and air/ventilation.”

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    by Anjie Cho

    How to Choose a Paint Finish

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    The proper paint application can dramatically change the look of a room with very little cost. Paint influences the mood of your home, and even camouflages unwanted imperfections. 

    But how do you know which finish to choose? This guide will help you decide.

    A flat finish has no shine.  It is great for walls with nicks and blemishes, as it tends to hide them and make the wall look smoother. A flat finish doesn’t reflect light, so it isn’t the best choice if you want to brighten your room. It is also difficult to clean, so it is best suited for low-traffic areas.

    Some paint companies offer a matte finish, which resembles a flat finish. It is slightly more durable and easier to clean. It’s still good for camouflaging minor bumps and other small imperfections.

    If an area has a little more traffic, you can consider an eggshell finish, which has a slight hint of shine.

    For brightening up a room, choose a pearl or satin finish. They are more glossy than eggshell and will reflect light back into your room instead of sucking it up. Pearl finishes are highly washable and stand up to high traffic. But imperfections in the wall will stand out.

    Semi-gloss paint is used most often on trim, doors, and cabinets. It has a nice, subtle shine, and washes easily. Extra care must be taken with wall preparation, since imperfections are highlighted by a semi-gloss surface.

    High gloss paints offer washability and durability with their reflective, shiny finish. Glossy paints are not often used on interior walls, but they are a dramatic look for cabinets, trims, and even furniture. A high-gloss finish will exaggerate and magnify surface imperfections, so careful preparation is essential.

    Whether you are updating one room or redecorating your entire house, paint is a simple, inexpensive way to achieve a striking new look.

    by Anjie Cho